A circuit of Manila

3 February 2013

            This morning we were picked up by two of our friends to go to a Chinese restaurant in Binondo, Manila’s China Town. Since it was Sunday, traffic was relatively light and we weren’t too worried about driving all the way into one of the busier areas of Manila proper.

            Our drive took us right past the Quiapo Church, home to the famous sculpture of the Black Nazarene. After losing our way a few times weaving through small streets we finally found Wan Chai Tea House, a place recommended by our friends’ friend. We had a nice Chinese meal with various dumplings, rice dishes, and meats and left completely stuffed.

workers making siao mai

Tikoy for Chinese New Year

jeepney decoration next to us in traffic

            After our meal, we drove south through the heart of Manila, past the old Paco Park, and looped back up through Makati to Taguig, where our friends wanted to take us to a place that was supposed to have good bread and coffee. We’ve been searching for good bread since we’ve arrived and haven’t found anything to our satisfaction yet, but our friends seem to know all of the delicious places. When we arrived to Wildflour, we started to get excited. 

They had some amazing looking pastries on display, including a roasted garlic knot, basically a bread dumpling with a full head of roasted garlic inside. Grace ordered one of the knots (which they unfortunately drenched in butter before serving) and I ordered an amazing dessert of chocolate beignets with banana ice cream. Our friends ordered a ginger tea latte (Grace really liked that), banana-PB cream pie, and a well-done pan au chocolat.  They were all out of their breads for the day but we were able to try some of their ciabatta, which was the best we’ve had since we’ve left the U.S. We’re definitely planning on going back some morning when they have more breads available. Lots of other people think highly of the restaurant: here, here, and here.

roasted garlic knots

            After our snack in Taguig, we got back in the car to return to Ateneo, completing a full circuit of the city. On any other day of the week, the driving alone would have probably taken a full four hours or more but, since it was Sunday, we were able to move relatively freely.

A rough map of our trip that took us in a loop around metro Manila